Panther Falls

Some exposure around the waterfall - make sure it's dry and hang onto little kids tightly!

Trip Technical Terrain Ratings

YDS Class:

Hiking

Related Content

Interesting Facts:

Panther Falls are a series of waterfalls in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. It is developed on Nigel Creek and its waters originate in Nigel Pass, between the slopes of Cirrus Mountain and Nigel Peak in the Parker Ridge of the Canadian Rockies. (from Wikipedia.org)

After scrambling the gorgeous Boundary Peak near the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park, the kids and I stopped at the Bridal Veil lookout on highway #93 on our way back to Yoho, where we were camped for the weekend. I wanted to show them the impressive Panther Falls, which is easily reached via a somewhat exposed, but very short hike starting at the lookout.

Follow an obvious, wide trail down from the parking lot straight to the east and then follow another trail to the north (left). This trail goes up and through a narrow rock gap before traversing a very exposed ledge to a massive cave behind Panther Falls!

[The kids on the trail to Panther Falls.]

[This interesting rock flake is a landmark to watch out for.]

[Looking back at our approach - note the ledge behind Kaycie that squeezes around a rock outcrop - this is very exposed and you should use caution here!]

[Behind Panther Falls!]

[Looking out of the cave behind the falls towards Bridal Veil Falls and outliers of Cirrus Mountain.]

About Me

My name is Vern Dewit. I moved to Calgary, Alberta (Canada) in 1999 and since then I've fallen in love with the spectacular scenery and grand vistas that open up as you scramble up above treeline on a beautiful fall morning, or make your first cast on some back country stream as the sun throws its golden warmth on surrounding peaks.

Goal

I hope that my trip reports and pictures will inspire you to push your own physical limits whatever those may be. You may be inspired to try scrambling - a sport where you climb mountains via non-technical ascent routes - or you may simply realize what's in your own backyard and go for a short hike somewhere.

Disclaimer / Contact

Read the trip reports carefully and don't simply follow them blindly. Make sure you're within your abilities and if you have any questions don't hesitate to send me an email.